Support Groups in Oz
 

Podgypossums getting a support group going in Adelaide. I think it deserves some sort of award because its a great idea. this forum provides advice before you get there but practical help/advice when you arrive is what all of us could do with. Thomaz situation comes to mind. Are there any support groups in Brisbane/ melbourne/ perth/Sydney.
If not is there anyone prepared to organise one?

Graham

Thanks for the mention Graham, but it isnt just me doing it. There are several other people involved and working very hard on it. I just had the initial idea.

Less take, more give, might be a good starting point... but i dare not say anymore...i am way too controversial as it is. ;)

If there can be a national support group, with a common website and forum it would be much better.

I can help out with the website if you`d like for any support project.

I agree with the national website idea Stormz, but if you want to create something for personal and individual help, i think you need regional groups specific to each area or city.
Because they all have seperate governemnts and are all very distant from each other it would be difficult, but certainly having one for each region and linking it to a national website would be good.

Yeah, that`s what I meant.... a general forum like this one so ppl from all over Aus can communicate (the more advice/help the better), but on the main site there will be sections for each state.

hi folks
dont mean to hijack the thread but would you be able to get any financial help for your projects??
I ask because I am chairperson of a local group(in uk) and we have had funding from various government grants and the lottery, and I know the committee members , who have told me they get lots of applications from projects in the area who are setting up support groups for, for eg yemeni support, gypsy/traveller support etc. I live in an Objective One area here in the uk, but is there something similar in Oz/NZ?
Isnt there a migrant support office, I vaguely remember seeing a website link on one of the govt sites/dimia??? perhaps if you get in touch with them they may be able to offer help/advice/assistance/financial help?

good luck guys.......from little acorns great oaks grow!!!

sue:D

Good..thats settled then ..LOL :D

But another problem is getting people to actually do what they say they will. We are very lucky so far in Adelaide, we have a really good group. I am truly amazed at the talents i have discovered these people have.

Its not just about sitting at a puter fiddling with a website though. You need to do a lot of ground work, and local information gathering. There is much much more to do offline too. I guess it depends on what sort of help you want to offer, but the website side of it is just the start.

Getting those willing to help out on the not so glamourous tasks i can see being quite difficult.

Why not ask the administrator or whoever to give you a separate forum on expats??
You could ask him to put a caveat on the forum saying any unsympathetic poster stay out!!!!!

sue:D

Thanx Sue..i shall investigate on Monday. Hurry up and get here...you can be our marketing consultant

Can't www.britishexpats.com be split into sections to cover such an idea ?

Yes..but you would need to get an active group involved in each state...is that possible??

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tiredwithtwins
I ask because I am chairperson of a local group.

Suppose you will be aiming for promotion to Doorwoman next then :D

here is the link for the migrant resource centre - think you click on SA on the drop down menu at the bottom and links you up to the centre in SA....link for the one in adelaide is in there somewhere.
This is also a link for other states too

http://www.immi.gov.au/settle/help/s...source_centres

sue:D


ooops this IS the link for the SA site.....

this is the link for the australia wide site....this is the one you click on the menu at the bottom for the choice of states!

http://www.immi.gov.au/settle/help/index.htm

sue:)

WE NEED YOU SUE!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bix

oooops!!!! Actually Im secretary/treasurer, not chairperson!! getting ideas above my station!!!!!
i wish to be promoted to chief wine buyer....


sue:D

Think this is a great idea and would love to be involved in something if a Perth one was to ge off the ground.

I've been really stressing this last week and given Hubby a real deluge of negativity. I'm sooooooooooooooooo scared that I will come unstuck and be a misery. I was so up for it and just hope I'm in a dip on the 'Oz bound roller coaster'. I'm worrying about things that haven't even happened yet.

I just think something like this would really help me - such as going on a fact finding mission for the support group - would help me meet people and get me off my arse .

I know this site is for info and painting a picture of both pos. and negs. but alot of what I'm reading at the moment makes me wish I wasn't so addicted ! I feel so sorry for the people who it hasn't worked out for and keep thinking 'that could be us ...argh....'
Warren (the sensible one) keeps pointing out to me that we are all different and are all going to have totaly different experiences , as we are all in different circumstances.

Gosh sorry that was a bit of a rant, but part of me has been thinking of not coming on here for a while, but that would be stupid. I can tell you that the rosies are well and truely off now and I'm scared:scared: , hope it passes.

Jill

You have hit on a very good point Jill

What better way to get used ot your new surroundings and find out stuff than getting involved in a group like htis. Apart from making you get off your bum and do something, it creates a new social circle and making new friends is a lot easier. We have found this to be very true since embarking on Adlaide Brits. Its not all work and no play...we know how to misbehave :D

here ya go

http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/c...ams/grants.htm

I found this by putting 'grants for community groups' into the yahoo.com.au search engine for aus. brought up pages and pages for others across australia

hope its some help

sue:D

As the aussies would say... " you little beauty!!"

I started a free site for migrants from all countries and in any state - www.connections.com.au The idea is to register and find people who may now live locally but orginiate from the same area so that you can share support/advice/friendship with people who are more likely to understand how you might be feeling. It's very new but is getting bigger everyday; as more members join we'll add new features such as meet-ups etc.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated and to those who have already registered - thank you!

Amanda

Hi Amanda..i had a look at your site it looks very good!!...i havent had a chance to delve too deep as i been very busy with Adelaide Brits..

One thing that does bother me about all this though. If we all keep popping up with new and individual sites and not pool it togther it will all become a mishmash... its beginning to ge to the point where no one will know where to go or who to deal with.

So what do we do?

ok..maybe not..just my mind running overtime again.. as you were.. :D

put links on your websites to each others group?

good idea..

tis all very confusing..

i'll go bury my head in the sand

you can always print a leaflet off and leave it at strategic places around adelaide airport!!??

We are hoping to develop a welcome pack with heaps of brochures and info for the newly arrived... we did discuss sending stuff to those still in UK but we dont know how to get around postage issues...we cant afford to fund potage oursleves and telling peeps to send a SAE wouldnt work as it would have a UK stamp on!!
So that idea is shelved for now.

Well, I think that there could be a way to do the National website, if we all get together from our different states with our own information sites, and just use links to get us all in one place, ie the National website.

Does this make sense, it is late, and I know what I mean anyway.

If you have a site in Perth offering support to new people, we have a site in Adelaide similar, eventually, once we are up and running, we could come together with this National site people keep suggesting.

Do the Post Offices still do "International Reply Coupons" ??

Not sure, but i will ask..thanx ABC!

I just did a google search:

Geeez...you're on the ball for a sunday morning!! i not even had breakfast yet

YAWWWWWWWN... :zzz:

thats great info...thankyou ABC

My daughter had her alarm clock set for school time, and didn't turn it OFF. So I didnt get a sleep in today !!

she needs hanging from the celing by her ankles i say!!!;)